Can a missed miscarriage miscarry naturally?

Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
Updated on June 05, 2025
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Missed miscarriage and spontaneous miscarriage are two terms describing early pregnancy conditions, but there is a significant difference between them. Missed miscarriage refers to the absence of a fetal heartbeat confirmed by ultrasound in early pregnancy, which indicates that the embryo has stopped developing. On the other hand, spontaneous miscarriage refers to the spontaneous expulsion of the gestational sac from the uterine cavity. In the case of a missed miscarriage, it is important to expedite the miscarriage process to expel the gestational sac from the uterus, minimizing the impact on the mother. It is possible for a missed miscarriage to lead to a spontaneous miscarriage, but it may not happen automatically. For a missed miscarriage, if a spontaneous miscarriage occurs, that is preferable. However, if there are no signs of spontaneous miscarriage, it is not advisable to wait indefinitely. Prompt medical intervention is recommended, and the choice of medical or surgical abortion is available.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
48sec home-news-image

Does natural miscarriage have anything to do with sperm?

The occurrence of natural miscarriage is somewhat related to the quality of the male's sperm. When the vitality of the sperm and the rate of sperm abnormalities are both decreased, it tends to lead to miscarriage. The combination of sperm and egg requires both to be healthy to conceive a healthy baby. If the quality of the sperm is poor, it might lead to miscarriage even if a fertilized egg is formed. Therefore, before pregnancy, both men and women should go to the hospital for pre-pregnancy check-ups to see if their bodies are suitable for pregnancy. If the sperm quality is poor, it should be regulated, and pregnancy should only be attempted after the sperm quality has been improved.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
1min home-news-image

What should I do if a natural miscarriage is not complete?

If after a natural miscarriage, there is prolonged vaginal bleeding and accompanying abdominal pain, it is necessary to consider the possibility that the miscarriage was incomplete. In this case, the first step is to go to the hospital for an ultrasound to check if there is any residual tissue in the uterine cavity and the size of any remaining embryonic tissue. Treatment should be determined based on the size of the residual tissue. If the residual tissue is relatively small, about 1 centimeter, it is generally possible to promote uterine contraction and aid the expulsion of the residual tissue by taking medications that improve blood circulation and remove blood stasis. If the residual tissue is larger, exceeding 2 centimeters, taking medication generally does not yield good results, and it becomes necessary to proceed with further surgical cleaning of the uterus.

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Written by Zhang Xiu Rong
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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How long does it take to get a period after a natural miscarriage?

For patients who have had a spontaneous miscarriage, if their menstrual cycle is usually regular, the first day of the spontaneous miscarriage is the time when their next period would begin. However, if the miscarriage is incomplete and a dilation and curettage (D&C) procedure is required, the first day after the D&C is considered the start date for the next menstrual cycle. Some people experience spontaneous miscarriages due to menstrual irregularities and an irregular menstrual cycle, which may be caused by hormonal imbalances. In such cases, the timing of the next period after a miscarriage is uncertain. If the menstrual cycle is regular, the next period can be estimated based on the aforementioned timings. However, if the cycle is irregular, the timing of the next period post-miscarriage primarily depends on the condition of the endometrium. If the endometrium has recovered to a thickness of 1.0 or more, menstruation is likely to occur. If the endometrial lining is thin, menstruation may not occur for the time being. Therefore, the length of time until menstruation resumes following a spontaneous miscarriage also requires monitoring of the hormonal balance and the regularity of the usual menstrual cycle.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Can a natural miscarriage be completely cleared?

After a natural miscarriage, whether it can be completely cleared varies from individual to individual. Some women may have a complete miscarriage naturally. However, some people may have existing gynecological inflammation or be relatively weak, which can lead to incomplete miscarriage, necessitating further uterine cleaning. After the miscarriage, women should closely monitor their vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain. Normally, after such a miscarriage, abdominal pain should last about two to three days, and vaginal bleeding should clear up within a week. If vaginal bleeding persists for a longer time and abdominal pain occurs, the possibility of residual materials in the uterine cavity should be considered, and it is advised to go to the hospital for further ultrasound examination and subsequent treatment as needed.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
1min 3sec home-news-image

Can a missed miscarriage miscarry naturally?

Missed miscarriage and spontaneous miscarriage are two terms describing early pregnancy conditions, but there is a significant difference between them. Missed miscarriage refers to the absence of a fetal heartbeat confirmed by ultrasound in early pregnancy, which indicates that the embryo has stopped developing. On the other hand, spontaneous miscarriage refers to the spontaneous expulsion of the gestational sac from the uterine cavity. In the case of a missed miscarriage, it is important to expedite the miscarriage process to expel the gestational sac from the uterus, minimizing the impact on the mother. It is possible for a missed miscarriage to lead to a spontaneous miscarriage, but it may not happen automatically. For a missed miscarriage, if a spontaneous miscarriage occurs, that is preferable. However, if there are no signs of spontaneous miscarriage, it is not advisable to wait indefinitely. Prompt medical intervention is recommended, and the choice of medical or surgical abortion is available.